Israel has announced plans to build 1400 new houses in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The move was expected after the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners last month, but was delayed until after a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry.
About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The BBC reports the settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
On Friday, the ministry of housing issued tenders for the construction of 801 housing units in West Bank settlements, including Efrat, Elkana and Emanuel, and 600 in Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem.
The ministry also re-issued tenders for a further 532 homes in East Jerusalem that previously failed to attract bids from contractors.
A dispute over settlement construction led to the collapse of the last peace talks with the Palestinians.
